Parachute pack harness



July 3, 1934.

s. SWITLIK PARACHUTE PACK HARNESS Filed March '22, 1952 s sheets-sheep 1 fi tan lgy await/{n76 NVENTOR ATTORNEY July 3, 1934. s. sw I 1,964,864

PARACHUTE' PACK HARNESS Filed March 22, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Stan le fiw am/v',

NNNNNN OR M ATTORNEY July 3, 1934. s. SWITLIK PARACHUTE PACK HARNESS Filed March 22, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Stanley fla r/Z5076;

ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES .PARACHUTE PACK HARNESS Stanley Switlik, Trenton, N. J.

' Application March 22,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a parachute pack harness and of a type which can be used in connection with any kind and construction of aircraft cabin chairs, either those of the general design or those of special design, for example such as described and illustrated and claimed in With this type of parachute pack harness it is the purpose to avoid using the parachute pack in front and hence prevent injury to the face of the user.

Another purpose is the provision of a harness, which can if needs require, be worn by the passenger at all times while the parachute pack, whether it be a seat pack or a back pack, remains on the chair, in combination with detachable connections between the harness and the lift webs or connector webs of the parachute, so that by the passenger or other person returning to the chair and connecting the harness to the pack, the parachute pack is at all times available by the user.

If desirable the pack and harness may remain in the chair, in which case a user can return to the chair, quickly apply the harness to the body, after which the pack is at all times and at will available for use.

Another purpose is to provide a parachute harness which can at all times be applied to the wearer, whether the wearer ,is a pilot or a passenger, while the pack can remain in any convenient place on the aircraft, in which event, if required the wearer may. return and attach the harness to the pack and subsequently jump from the aircraft.

A further purpose is to provide, in a parachute pack, a pack releasing means carried by the lift webs (which are at all times exposed beyond the pack), in which event the releasing means are constantly easily, quickly and conveniently available, whether it is a seat pack or a back pack.

A still further purpose is to provide, in a device of this kind, the attachment of the rip cord handle and flexible cable to one of the lift or connector webs, which remain exposed exteriorly of the pack, but in reality are connected 1932, Serial No. 600,486

to the shroud cords of the parachute, and in which case the rip cord handle is always available for use.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, andthat while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in'the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved parachute pack harness constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the position and arrangement of the harness, as it would appear with the person in a sitting posture and the pack at the back.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the parachute pack harness, showing the position of the suspending webs of the harness extending upwardly and connected to the lift or connector webs, which in turn operatively connect with the shroud cords of the parachute.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing the parachute pack harness in association with and connected to a seat pack.

Figure 4 is a view showing the parachute as having taken the air, with the harness applied to the wearer, the latter being supported by the suspending and lift webs from the parachute.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through the separable or breaking connections between the suspending or second lift webs and certain of the straps of the harness.

Referring to the drawings 1 identifies either a back pack or a seat pack, and which may be used either in a conventional type of aircraft cabin chair, or it may constitute the back of a special type of cabin chair, such as disclosed in the application for patent filed February 23rd 1932,

Serial No. 594,700.

Extending from the pack, and which are connected to the shroud cords of the parachute on the inside of the back are the lift or connector webs 2, which in turn are connected to the metal rings 3. The D rings 3 are in turn engaged with the snap hooks 4 and 4a, which in turn are carried by second lift or supporting webs or straps 5 and 5a of the harness.

The parachute harness includes straps 6 and 6a. The strap 6 is connected to an adapter '7 passes under the seat pad -8 through suitable loops (not shown) carried by the seat pad, makes a loop 9, which carries a snap hook 10 and passes supporting web or strap 511 at a point where a D ring 13 is connected to the second lift or supporting web or strap 5a.- The D ring 13 connects with the snap hook 10 in order to assist in holding the harness to the legs of the wearer.

The strap 6a is similarly arranged only in the reverse direction, namely it is connected to an adapter '7' similar to the adapter '7 at the rear of the seat pad of the other side passing under the pad 8 and coming up between the legs of the wearer forming a loop 14 carrying a D ring 15, back under the seat pad and through the adapter (not shown) up on the other side of the wearer toward the front forming a loop 16 carrying a D ring 1'7, up over the shoulder of the wearer down the back crossing the strap 6 then toward the side and the front and is connected at 18 to the second lift or supporting web or strap 5, and where it is connected at 18 it carries a snap hook 19, which engages a D ring 15, therebyfurther supporting the harness to the body of the-wearer.

It might be said that the second lift or supporting webs or straps 5 and 5a are in reality one element, and it passes under the seat pad 8 and is fastened to the pad at 20 as shown in Figure 2, and adjacent where the straps 6 and 6a cross on the bottom of the seat pad they pass between opposite parts of the second lift or supporting webs or straps 5, as shown in Figure 2. The second lift or supporting webs or straps 5 and 5a pass partially upwardly of the sides of the wearer in front and over the shoulders, down back and under the arms forwardly, again in front and one side, namely 5a carries a snap hook 4, while the other side 5 also carries a snap hook 4a. These second lift or supporting webs or straps 5 and 5a pass through the adapters 23, which are carried by the straps 6 and 6a.

Adjacent where the lift or supporting webs or straps 5 and 5a carry the snap hooks 4 and 4a, they are connected by separable or breaking tackings or connections 24 with the straps 6 and 6a. By this arrangement, when the tie cord or wire 25 is released, thereby opening the pack, the rip pin having been previously released or pulled the parachute unfolds and takes the air. Since the lift webs 2 are connected to the shroud cords of the parachute and subsequent to the parachute taking the air, a sudden jerk is imparted on the lift or connector webs 2, which sudden jerk causes a. break of the separable connections 24 between the second lift webs 5 and 5a and the straps 6 and 6a. In this case the straps or lift webs 5 and 5a move toward the rear fromunder the arms and upwardly, thereby supporting the harness as well as the wearer.

A rip cord 26 passes througha flexible tube 27 and is connected to the usual rip pin 28, and the other end of the rip cord 26 is connected to a release handle 29, which is mounted in a pocket 30 or otherwise carried on the lift webs 2. In this manner the releasing handle is at all times available.

as in Figures 1 and 2, the releasing handle 29 being also mounted or carried in a pocket 31 on the lift webs 2.

When the pack is remaining in an aircraft cabin chair, or otherwise disposed idle in any part of theaircraft, and the harness is on a wearer it is obvious that the releasing means for the parachute pack is at all times on the lift webs 2 and obviously easily and quickly in convenient reach. Should occasion instantly arise the wearer of the harness or a pilot with a harness applied may locate the nearest parachute pack on the aircraft and assume such a position as would enable the harness on the wearer to be easily attached to the pack, by engaging the snap hooks 4 and 4a in the D rings 3 of the lift webs 2, in which case the wearer can easily leave the aircraft. In this case just as soon as the release handle is removed from the pocket and the pull cord 26 operated and the cord or wire 25 of the pack released, the parachute will unfold and take the air. Consequently a sudden jerk is imparted on the lift webs 2, which is transmitted through the medium of the D rings 3 and the snap hooks 4 and 4a, breaking the separable connections or tackings 24, allowing the lift or supporting webs 5 to move toward the rear from the arms and upwardly from the back, thereby supporting the harness as well as the wearer, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 4. In this way parts of the parachute harness are prevented from passing up the front of the wearer and avoiding injury.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. In a parachute equipment, a parachute barness having main supporting webs normally ex- .tending from under the seat of the wearer up arms and finally having their terminal ends extending toward the front of the wearer, and separable connecting means between the terminal ends and the front of the harness, and means carried by the terminal ends of the main supporting webs adapted for connection to lift webs of a parachute pack.

3. In a parachute equipment, a parachute harness including main supporting webs normally extending from under the seat of the wearer upwardly in front thereof, over the shoulders, down the back and under the arms with their terminals terminating substantially in front of the wearer, and separable connections between the terminals and the front of the harness.

4. In a parachute equipment, a parachute harness including main supporting webs normally extending from under the seat of the wearer upwardly in front thereof, over the shoulders, down the back and under the arms with their terminals terminating substantislly in front of the wearer, and separable connections between the terminals and the front of the harness, a parachute pack having lift webs extending from opposite sides thereof, and connecting means between the lift webs and the terminals of the main supporting webs.

5. In a parachute equipment, aparachute harness including main supporting webs normally extending from under the seat of the wearer upwardly in front thereof, over the shoulders, down the back and under the arms with their terminals terminating substantially in front of the wearer, and separable connections between the terminals and the front of the harness, a parachute pack having lift webs extending from opposite sides thereof, and connecting means between the lift webs and the terminals of the main supporting webs, and a pack releasing means carried by one of the lift webs.

6. In a parachute pack harness, a harness including supporting webs or straps passing from the back of the user from over the shoulders and having terminal snap hooks and provided with separable or breaking connections with the front part of the harness, whereby when said connections break the supporting webs pass from under the arms and up the back of the user, a parachute pack including lift webs extending from the pack and connected to shroud cords of a parachute, and rings at the terminals of the lift webs for engagement with the snap hooks.

7. In a parachute equipment, the combination with a parachute pack provided with lift webs extending therefrom and connected to the shroud cords of a parachute within the pack, of a parachute harness including body straps or webs for detachable fastening in the front of the user, said harness also including supporting webs extending from the rear toward the front from over the shoulders, under the arms and finally having their terminal ends merging toward the front of the wearer, said supporting webs having separable or breaking connections with the terminals of the body straps, whereby when the pack is released and the parachute takes the air, said connections are severed, and means connecting the terminals of said supporting webs or straps and the terminals of the lift webs.

8. In a parachute equipment, a parachute pack having connector lift webs extending therefrom and provided with means whereby they may be connected to second lift supporting webs of a harness, said second lift supporting webs having separable connections with the front part of the harness, the construction and. arrangement of said second lift supporting webs extending from under the seat of the wearer up the front thereof and over the shoulders, under the arms and finally having their terminal ends extending toward the front of the wearer, whereby as the webs are in the act of assuming their suspending positions they avoid contact with the wearers face.

9. In a parachute equipment, a parachute pack having connector lift webs extending therefrom and provided with means whereby they may be connected to second lift supporting webs of a harness, said second lift supporting webs having separable connections with the-front part of the harness, the construction and arrangement of said second lift supporting webs extending from under the seat of the wearer up the front thereof and over the shoulders, under the arms and finally having their terminal ends extending toward the front of the wearer, whereby as the webs are in the act of assuming their suspending positions they avoid contact with the wearers face, and pack releasing means carried by the connector lift webs.

10. A parachute pack and a parachute harness, the latter having certain of its harness straps located at the front of the wearer, said harness having supporting webs extending from under the seat of the wearer upwardly in front thereof, over the shoulders, down the back andunder the arms, their ends terminating in front of the wearer, means connecting said ends to those harness straps which are located at the front of the wearer, said pack having lift webs extending therefrom and a rip cord, and a rip cord handle removably carried by one of the lift webs.

STANLEY SWITLIK. 

